Handel’s Water Music, Sparkling Baroque—Sydney Symphony Orchestra

One of the best-loved Baroque composers, George Frideric Handel achieved enduring success with ground-breaking and inspirational orchestral music (The Messiah, Zadok the Priest, Music for the Royal Fireworks). Like much of his work, the Water Music was an 18th-century show stopper. Commissioned by King George I for a concert on the Thames, all of London turned out to see Handel and his orchestra floating up and down the river on a barge, playing this exciting, ceremonial music. It’s a foot-tapping party on and off stage—and the music was such a hit the King demanded an immediate encore!

Pisendel’s Imitation des caractères de la danse is pure Baroque elegance. In just a few short minutes it captures the spirit of different courtly dances and all their refined elegance. Listen as the notes played by the Sydney Symphony musicians dance and swirl around each other.